The structure and evolution of archaebacterial ribosomal RNAs

A cladistic analysis of 553 5S rRNA sequences has revealed a Ur-5S rRNA, the ancestor of all present-day 5S rRNA molecules. Previously stated characteristic differences between the eubacterial and eukaryotic molecules, namely, the length base-pairing schemes of helices D, can be used as a marker for the various archaebacterial branches. One model comprises Thermococcus, Thermoplasma, methanobacteria, and halobacteria; a second comprises the Sulfolobales; and a third is represented only by the single organism Octopus Spring species 1. A relaxed selection pressure on helix E with subsequent deletions is observed in Methanobacteriales, Methanococcales, and eubacteria. The secondary structures are supported by enzymatic digestion and chemical modification studies of the 5S rRNAs. Reconstitution of eubacterial 50S ribosomal subunits with 5S rRNA from Halobacterium and Thermoplasma has revealed 100% incorporation, while eukaryotic 5S rRNAs yielded a 50% incorporation. Relevant positions of the small-subunit rRNA are selected to answer the question of the monophyly of archaebacteria. Eight positions account for monophyly, eight for an ancestry of eubacteria with halophile methanogens and eukaryotes with eocytes (paraphyly of archaebacteria), and two for an ancestry of eubacteria with eocytes. A refinement of the neighborliness method of S. Sattath and A. Tversky resulted in a monophyly of archaebacteria when all positions are treated equally and in a paraphyly when tranversions are weighted twice over transitions.     

Schriftenschau

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Schriftenschau

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Substance P: binding properties and studies on cellular responses in guinea pig macrophages

The neuropeptide Substance P (SP) has been recognized to modulate functional activities of inflammatory cells. We have previously shown that it mediates macrophage activation. In this study we examined binding characteristics of SP and searched for additional evidence of heightened metabolic activity of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages upon challenge with this peptide. Radioligand studies indicated the existence of a homogeneous class of specific binding sites with high affinity for SP on macrophages. Scatchard analysis yielded an apparent KD of 1.9 +/- 0.4 X 10(-8) M (range: 1.4 to 2.4 X 10(-8) M), which was confirmed by kinetic studies. Binding was dose related, saturable, reversible, and could be inhibited by the SP antagonist (D-Pro2,D-Phe7,D-Trp9)-SP. Examination of peptide structural requirements revealed that both the COOH- and NH2-terminus contribute to receptor-ligand interaction. Other members of the tachykinin group of peptides were devoid of stimulatory action on macrophages. Cellular responses after engagement of the receptor sites by SP included downregulation of the membrane-associated enzyme 5'-nucleotidase and stimulation of synthesis and release of arachidonic acid metabolites, as well as of the lysosomal enzyme ADGase. These actions were specific as evidenced by immunoabsorption experiments. Our findings demonstrate that macrophage activation afforded by SP is effected through a receptor-mediated mechanism. Liberation of proinflammatory and immunomodulating substances in response to SP may be relevant to the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory disease.     

Saponine als pflanzliche Pilzabwehrstoffe

Zusammenfassung 19 verschiedene Saponine und Saponingemische wurden gegen 15 Arten hauptsächlich pflanzenpathogener Pilze getestet. Dabei zeigten die Pilze unterschiedliche Empfindlichkeit, doch war keiner generell saponinresistent. Die fungistatische Wirkung auf eine Reihe von Pilzen tritt schon in einem Konzentrationsbereich ein, der oft noch unter dem tatsächlichen Saponingehalt zahlreicher Pflanzen liegt.

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Saponins as plant fungistatic compoundsOn the antibiotic action of saponins. III

Summary The action of 19 saponins and saponin fractions on 15 species of fungi, mostly plant pathogenes, was tested. The fungi showed different sensitivity, but no fungus was generally resistant to saponins. The fungistatic action on several species was observed at concentrations often below the real saponin content of many plants.

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Meinem verehrten Lehrer, Herrn Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Dr. h. c. Richard Harder, zum 80. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Response of different decomposer communities to the manipulation of moisture availability: potential effects of changing precipitation patterns

The potential impacts of changes in precipitation patterns associated with global climate change on the relationship between soil community diversity and litter decomposition were investigated. For a period of ca. 5 months, two decomposer communities in litterbags (1000 and 45 μm mesh size) containing spruce litter were subjected to two irrigation treatments: constant and fluctuating (drying/rewetting) moisture conditions. The latter were expected to induce moisture stress on the decomposer communities. The two mesh sizes were used to exclude different faunal components from the decomposer communities. The 1000 μm mesh excluded only the macrofauna, whereas the 45 μm mesh excluded both the macro- and mesofauna. In the short-term perspective of the present study, mesofauna abundance showed no response to imposed fluctuating moisture conditions. Irrespective of the presence of mesofauna, mass loss, microbial biomass and the control mechanisms, regulating carbon mineralization appeared unaffected by fluctuating moisture conditions. The reduction in the functional/structural diversity of the decomposer communities in the 45 μm litterbags resulted in strongly increased Nematoda abundance but it did not alter the response of Nematoda to fluctuating moisture conditions. Processes in the nitrogen (N)-cycle and mass loss were sensitive indicators of changes in the structural and functional complexity of decomposer communities. However, a negative effect of fluctuating moisture conditions on extractable N was coupled to the presence of mesofauna. Extremes in rainfall patterns, generated by climate change, may have a negative impact on the availability of nutrients, particularly N, for plants. This effect could be amplified by an additional impoverishment in the structural and functional complexity of the respective decomposer communities.     

Differential threshold effects of habitat fragmentation on gene flow in two widespread species of bush crickets

Effects of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity vary among species. This may be attributed to the interacting effects of species traits and landscape structure. While widely distributed and abundant species are often considered less susceptible to fragmentation, this may be different if they are small sized and show limited dispersal. Under intensive land use, habitat fragmentation may reach thresholds at which gene flow among populations of small-sized and dispersal-limited species becomes disrupted. Here, we studied the genetic diversity of two abundant and widespread bush crickets along a gradient of habitat fragmentation in an agricultural landscape. We applied traditional (G(ST), θ) and recently developed (G'ST', D) estimators of genetic differentiation on microsatellite data from each of twelve populations of the grassland species Metrioptera roeselii and the forest-edge species Pholidoptera griseoaptera to identify thresholds of habitat fragmentation below which genetic population structure is affected. Whereas the grassland species exhibited a uniform genetic structuring (G(ST) = 0.020-0.033; D = 0.085-0.149) along the whole fragmentation gradient, the forest-edge species' genetic differentiation increased significantly from D < 0.063 (G(ST) < 0.018) to D = 0.166 (G(ST) = 0.074), once the amount of suitable habitat dropped below a threshold of 20% and its proximity decreased substantially at the landscape scale. The influence of fragmentation on genetic differentiation was qualitatively unaffected by the choice of estimators of genetic differentiation but quantitatively underestimated by the traditional estimators. These results indicate that even for widespread species in modern agricultural landscapes fragmentation thresholds exist at which gene flow among suitable habitat patches becomes restricted.     

Pupylated proteins in Corynebacterium glutamicum revealed by MudPIT analysis

In a manner similar to ubiquitin, the prokaryotic ubiquitin‐like protein (Pup) has been shown to target proteins for degradation via the proteasome in mycobacteria. However, not all actinobacteria possessing the Pup protein also contain a proteasome. In this study, we set out to study pupylation in the proteasome‐lacking non‐pathogenic model organism Corynebacterium glutamicum. A defined pup deletion mutant of C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 grew aerobically as the parent strain in standard glucose minimal medium, indicating that pupylation is dispensable under these conditions. After expression of a Pup derivative carrying an aminoterminal polyhistidine tag in the Δpup mutant and Ni²⁺‐chelate affinity chromatography, pupylated proteins were isolated. Multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) and MALDI‐TOF‐MS/MS of the elution fraction unraveled 55 proteins being pupylated in C. glutamicum and 66 pupylation sites. Similar to mycobacteria, the majority of pupylated proteins are involved in metabolism or translation. Our results define the first pupylome of an actinobacterial species lacking a proteasome, confirming that other fates besides proteasomal degradation are possible for pupylated proteins.